Security Update: Be Careful Online during the Holidays

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reminding consumers to remain vigilant when browsing or shopping online this time of year.

Officials note that the season presents numerous opportunities for criminals to commit fraud.

Some examples are electronic Christmas cards from unknown senders containing malicious software; fake ads or shipping notifications delivering viruses; and spoofed emails and posts on social networking sites requesting support for phony causes.

To avoid security lapses, please consider the following actions:

• Avoid following unsolicited links or attachments from sources with which you’re not familiar.

• Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s site for scam alerts.

• Assess your passwords and consider making them stronger; never create a single phrase for more than one site.

• Always use common sense when downloading games, file-sharing tools, streaming clients, and other third-party apps.

For more information and additional updates regarding how your credit union is working to protect your resources, please click here.